This month's decision by the Central Telephone Company (Centel) to move its Farmington business office and plant service center has been met locally with surprise and disappointment.

According to a Communications Workers of America member and employee at Centel, the move will cost Farmington a net loss of about 45 jobs.

The employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said that though no one will actually lose his or her job, "it won't be too great for a lot of people to have to commute to Burnsville"....

The move to Burnsville is being planned because of Centel's need to consolidate its operations.

FHS salutes Mr. Maki at his retirement

The love of sports, mainly hockey, has been a primary interest through the entire life of one of FHS' mathematics teachers, Mr. Al Maki. It is the reason for his teaching career, both here at FHS as well as in other schools around Minnesota and Michigan. Now, after 33 years of teaching and 30 years of coaching, Mr. Maki has decided to retire to spend more time with his family and engage in other activities....

With his teaching experience Mr. Maki got jobs in Dowagiac, Michigan for three years and Flint, Michigan for two years. The superintendent of the school in Dowagiac, Ruben Boelke, hired Mr. Maki. He then later moved and became the superintendent of Farmington. Because Boelke was extremely pleased with Mr. Maki's teaching style, he asked Mr. Maki to move and teach in Farmington. Not knowing where Farmington was and yet wanting the job, Mr. Maki sent in his contract and began. That was 1959, and for the past 26 years he has remained....

Also during his free time, Mr. Maki has scouted talent for pro hockey teams such as the Detroit Red Wings and the Washington Capitols. Then in addition to travels around Minnesota and Michigan, Mr. Maki has been through Canada, both playing and coaching.

50 years ago

From the May 19, 1960

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Stacy Finden, 1 1/2 escapes, after falling from car

Little Stacey Finden, age 1 1/2 years, is in good condition this week, after falling out of a car onto the pavement, Sunday afternoon about 3:15 o'clock.

She was riding with her mother, Mrs. Avery Finden, her 6 mos. old brother Scott, who sat in an infants seat, was also in the car.

They were riding west on Elm street and the driver turned onto 3rd St., going south, when Stacy opened the right front door and fell to the pavement, in front of the Avalon Café. Mrs. Finden stopped immediately, picked up the child and with the assistance of Mrs. Gorge Bell, who came from the Avalon, took Stacy to Sanford hospital, where she was examined. She has scratches and bruises, but otherwise seems in good condition.

Credit goes to Tommy Holten, of Farmington, who was driving behind the Finden car. He was able to stop his car within a few feet from the baby on the pavement. Peter Klotz was riding with Holten.

Superintendent never knows just what he will find

On Monday morning, Farmington School Superintendent R. O. Boehlke came to his office as usual.

Something was unusual, however. A gray pigeon had taken up residence, having come through a ventilator.

Boehlke opened a window, and said "Dove, fly out into the world," and it did just that.

Everything was OK in the office, except for the bird's untidy habits.

75 years ago

From the May 24, 193

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

Seniors ending 'hi' school days

From four schools in this vicinity, including Farmington, Lakeville and Randolph 76 students will be graduated from high school, next week.

At Farmington the baccalaureate services will be conducted in the high school auditorium at 8 p.m., Sunday, and the commencement program will take place Friday evening, May 31st, according to detailed programs on this page....

Tripping over a playful collie pup, George Benz, 18-year-old lad residing at the Leander Twidt farm, fell and accidentally shot himself above the heart with a .22 caliber rifle at the Twidt farm, three miles southwest of here, at 5:00 o'clock Monday afternoon.

The lad is in a serious condition at Community hospital, where he was immediately taken by Mr. and Mrs. Leander Twidt and the former's sister, Anna Twidt, who arrived at the farm shortly after the accidental shooting....

X-ray pictures show that the bullet, a .22 long, entered the boy's body about two inches above the heart. Striking a rib, the bullet split, one piece of lead going through his left lung, the other piercing a muscle.

A sophomore in the Farmington high school, George had returned home from school Monday afternoon. When a hawk or crow hovered near the farm house, George procured his rifle, a Christmas gift from Leander, and prepared to shoot the bird. The dog, glad to see George after a day's absence, was a playful mood and remained close to his friend.

As George placed the rifle to his shoulder to shoot the bird, the collie pup ran between the lad's feet, causing him to stumble. As the boy fell the muzzle of the rifle swung around so that the gun was pointing at the boy's breast when the rifle in some way accidentally discharged.

115 years ago

From the May 23, 1895

edition of the

Dakota County Tribune

The local news

Some excellent street work has been done by Street Commissioner Harrington and crew of workmen the past week.

Geo. W. Dilley, of St. Paul, was in the village Friday and Saturday looking after needed repairs on his livery stable building.

The committee appointed by Canby Post to make arrangements for Decoration Day are making good progress, and everything points to a very successful meeting. Hon. John Day Smith, of Minneapolis, is the orator, and his fame as a speaker is not confined to the state of Minnesota alone. Music Hall has been engaged and will be handsomely decorated in honor of our dead comrades.